Last weekend while I was in Newcastle, I followed the recommendation of Chérie City and visited Mason + Rye.
Located in the newly refurbished Food Hall at Fenwick’s, Mason + Rye is a bakery-patisserie-café which specialises in fine patisserie and artisan baking. Fenwick’s was founded in 1882 and is now one of the largest department stores in the UK, set in a beautiful building on Northumberland Street.
Designed by a firm which has previously worked with Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, this is not your usual department store cafe! White walls and glass counters give an impressive, modern feel with timber and chalkboard menus cladding the walls. The centrepiece is a “theatre bakery” for diners to watch the pastry chefs at work crafting a range of delicious foodie treats.
For tea lovers, there is a a varied selection of teas if you need some refreshment mid-shopping spree. For food, the menu includes breakfast and lunch options which you can either eat in or take away.
Following a late Saturday night of drinking cocktails, it was the perfect place to grab Sunday brunch. There are healthy options such as grilled goats cheese tart or avocado, lemon juice and chilli on sour dough toast. The afternoon tea is also popular, served daily from 3.00pm, with visitors able to take home a box of fresh individual handmade cakes. The glass displays are a sight for sore eyes with beautiful eclairs, macaroons and delicious mini pastries. Perfect for those who have a sweet tooth.
The Food Hall itself features local produce including a number of products which are exclusive to Fenwick’s. All types of diets and tastes are catered for with specialist wines, cheeses and breads from around the world. It’s also a chocoholics dream with brownies and truffles aplenty.
I completely fell in love with the Food Hall. If you ever visit Newcastle, make sure you pop along to see it for yourself!